Mallorca - where to stay with toddler + older parents

[Abbie2222]

Hi all! Hoping for some recommendations please :) we’d like to head to Mallorca in may with my older parents who love swimming in the sea but aren’t super mobile (so rocky beaches, steep walks etc aren’t going to work). I found Pollensa and Alcudia but read they were had similar vibes to Blackpool which was hugely off putting! Same with Cala Bona - is that very party / chavvy? Is there any sort of beachside town with easy access to a nice beach with a few walkable restaurants? Close to an old town (drivable is fine) would be a plus! Places like Cala Santanyi, Illetes etc look so nice but too many hills for my parents. Any advice would be so appreciated. Thank you!

Magaluf is the party bit so avoid that cala bona is a very quiet but no nice beach. Alcudia is great for families but is a bit Blackpool. Look at cala Miller that has a lovely beach

Personally, been to puerto pollensa and stayed around the bay from alcudia. They had beach sops and Irish bars but very easily avoided. The beaches we used would be absolutely perfect for what you want.....do you have to stay in the town or could you stay further out and dip in for the nightlife as we did?

We stayed in Cala Bona and I wouldn't say it was chavvy. They cater to tourists, obviously, but it was a lovely mix of families when we went.

The beach isn't great though however it's a short walk to Cala Millor which has a stunning beach and some lovely restaurants on the front.

Porto Cristo has all you're looking for.

The sea will still be freezing in May. As well as any unheated pools. Are they cold water swimmers?

If not a hotel with heated pool for them and child might be more suited. Otherwise First week September is a better time to travel as summer holidays over for most but the sea has warmed up

Playa de Muro has a lovely beach and the resort isn’t overly big and it’s flat

Cala Bona beach is OK, it's just a bit small. The town is the most mobility-friendly in Majorca. The Hotel Cala Bona has adapted rooms.

However, based on your description, you might find Puerto Soller good too. The beach is quite big -- long but not wide, by which I mean it's a long walk along the shoreline but not a long way from the road to the sea. And the bay is very quiet, which means there are almost no waves (but on the other hand, the water, while still fine, is not quite as crystal clear as when the beach is on the open sea). Additionally, a couple of the hotels (the Minister and the unimprovably-named Esplendido) have heated pools. You can also take the bus, taxi, or the old tram to Soller town which is a couple of kilometres away. (You can get discount tickets for the tram at the station in Soller but it's a bit complicated, you have to get photos made.)

I was going to say exactly this

Cala d’Or

Puerto Pollensa would get my vote. If you hire a car (cheap in Spain) you can explore a bit too. Would also recommend puerto Soller area too for what you are looking for.

keep away from Alcudia/Muro and obv Magaluf if you want to avoid over touristy.

Thanks so much all for your input. Lots to think about! I’ve sent this link to my parents for them to read and digest! Much appreciated :)

Puerto Pollensa is absolutely nothing like Blackpool whatsoever. It's a lovely place with just the right amount of shops, bars and restaurants. Everywhere closes at midnight, so there are no rowdy drunks in the streets. We've been three times and would recommend staying near to the pedestrianised Pine Walk.

second for Cala d’or here